Pipe-compensator.



No. 700,378. Patented May 20, I902.

K. SCHMIDT. PIPE COMPENSATOR.

JA'pplication filed Eel 12, 1901.) (No Modem 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

. ATTORNEY.

No. 700,378 Patentad I may 20, I902.

, j K. SC HMIDT. PIPE COMPENSATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1901. (No Model.) 4 Sheets-$heet 2.

WITNESSES:

(Q f/ wmz/a A7TORNEY.

onms PETERS c0. PHOTO-THO WASHINGTON. D. c.

No. 700,378. Patented May 20, I902.

K. SCHMIDT.

PIPE GOMPENSATOR.

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1901.) I (No Modal.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

INVENTOR I W/ TNE SSE S:

' 1 Patented May 20, I902.

K. SCHMIDT.

PIPE CUMPENSATUB. 2 (Application filqd Feb. 12', 1901.

4 Sheets$heet 4.

( No Model.)

iii

WITNESSES:

. Arron/m.

Tu: nomus as 00.. Puuvo-urnm'wasmriu'rou. u. c.

UNITED. STATES PATENT KARL SCHMIDT, or onnsnnn, GERMANY.

PI PE-COM PENSATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,378, dated May 120, 1902". I

Application filed February 12, 19o1.-sera1no. 47,072. (Nom odeld To all whom it magy'c 'oncefa: 1

Be it knOWnthat'L KARLSCHMIDT, acitizen of the Kingdom of Saxony, residing at Dresden, in the Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Oompensators; and I do declare the following to 'be a full, clear,

3 and exact description of theinvention, such dangerous when such is omitted.

as will enable others skilled-in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

My invention has relation tonew and useful improvements in devicesfor compensatin g the motion of piping ensuing from changes of temperature. Many devices intended to accomplish this result have hitherto been 'em ployed, the most common of which are loop or U shaped smooth pipes of copper, steel, or the like, which either had to be inserted at short intervals or to possess a curve of large dimensions in order not to be strained beyond the limit of elasticity. Calculations as to the necessary dimensions of the oompen-- sators of this kind were as a rule not made, so that accidents'bybreakages were frequent but even when every kind of care is taken in the construction of such smooth compensa tors a guaranteeagai'n'st breakage may hardly" spected. Attempts have also been made to transform the longitudinal motion into a retatory one; but these rotatory compensators *too demand frequent inspection andbecome Finally, trials have been made with compensators which instead of being made of smooth-pipe curvesand angles were composed of corrugated pipe or metallic hose; but these, as

quence of their curvature already under a great, in many cases inadmissible, strain and are therefore when further strained not able imight'haveb'een anticipated,are connecteiii with the drawback that they are in consey 1 f to prevent a breakage, as may be easily shown by experiment.

The object of this invention'lis now to provide a means o'rdevice giving the pipingthe required freedom of: motion and affording a perfect compensation of the same without or angles in the piping entirely and employ-' ing instead comparatively short straight connecting-pieces of very flexiblemetal tube or I metallic hose of, for instance, the LavavaS- seur-Witzenmann patent, Frank patent, or another kind a'ndin-suc'h manner that these are arranged'atan angle to the longitudinal extent of the expanding pipe either in the same plane with the latter or another. Connecting-pieces of this kind when used as-deg a scribed constitute a novel useful device, in- H asmuch as the flexible connecting-piece is normallystraight or even bent in the opposite sense to that in which it is to act when co'mpenf satin g, so that it is subjected in'the latterinstance tothe least possible strain and its full elasticity is made use of. Thus when compared to'the flexible pipe inserted in a bent'condition from'the' start this connecting-pipe is able'to compensate a considerable expansion of the piping before it suffers the strain that the other normally is under, and even twice this much if it is inserted with a corresp'ond- 'ing bend in the opposite sense, as that alto gether its ability to compensate without dan ger of breakage is much greater-than that of the compensator with the initial strain. The

employment of' these compensator-s with straight, or approximately straight flexible metal pipes may be of various kinds and is especially advantageous in connection with form-pieces of L, T, or shape, &c.

For

these pieces copper is generally prescribed as material in cases of pipes of large diameter; but as the existing form-pieces of this kind were not flexiblein any considerable degree there was difficultyin putting down piping meeting from'three differentdireotions-for Ioo 7 pieces of highly-flexible metal pipe are connected at one or more points, thus giving the form pieces the nature of compensators. XVhen form-pieces are employed in this manner, there is not only the advantage gained of having much less strain in them, but also a further practical advantage of economy, as the curved parts, &c., may now be made of iron instead of the more costly metal used for them at present.

. I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figures 1 to 16, inclusive, show various forms of inflexible pipe-forms in connection with which my improved compensator is employed. Fig. 12 shows a pipe-form with my improved compensator attached thereto and also an improved means for limiting the compressive and tensile strain thereon. Fig. 17 shows the position assumed by the compensator when the pipes are subjected to compressive strain. Fig. 18 shows the position assumed by the compensator when the pipes are subjected to tensile strain. Fig. 19 is a view of a pipe-form having my improved compensator attachedthereto and improved means to prevent excessive bending of the compensator. Fig. 20 is a plan view of one form-support for the pipe-form and compensator. Fig. 21 is a side elevation of the support shown in Fig. 20, taken from the left. Fig. 22 is a side elevation of Fig. 20, taken from the right. Fig. 23 is a front elevation of another form of support. Figs. 24 to 26 show a modified form of support in plan and side elevation. Fig. 27 shows another arrangement of the compensator, and Fig. 28 shows the position assumed by the compensator shown in Fig. 27 when subjected to strain. Figs. 29 and 30 show, respectively, a stiffening-brace and a compensator constructed of a continuous flexible pipe, in connection with which the brace is to be employed. Fig. 31 is a view, partly in section, of the improved flexible piping employed in the construction of my compensator. Fig. 32 is afront elevation of a support similar to that shown in Fig. 22 and the manner in which the compensator is placed thereon. Fig. 33 is a side elevation of the support and compensator. Figs. 34 and 35 are top plan views of the support thereon; and Figs. 36, 37, and 38 are views of a modified form of the support with the compensator removed.

The compensators, as shown in the drawings, are preferably connected with their inflexible parts a to the several pipe-lines in such a manner that the flexible piece Z) is disposed at an angle to the pipe-lineas, for instance, in Figs. 1 to 4, 9, 11, 12, 13as in such position it is best adapted to be bent to and fro, Figs. 17, 18. In many cases, however, the flexible piece might to the same advantage be disposed parallel to or in the axis of the respective line of pipin The latter arrangement might especially be employed in cases of lines of piping meeting at an angleas, for instance, in Figs. 5 to 8, 10, 14, 15. In connection with pipes of large diameter a plurality of thinner compensating pipes might be used instead of a single one of the same diameter to make up the sectional area required, as Figs. 9, 13 show.

To prevent the flexible members I) from ever being overstrained, suitable safety devices are to be attached to the stilt parts a. For this purpose eyes 0 may be provided on the parts a, through which a rod (1 passes loosely with lateral play, carrying both be tween the eyes as well as behind them abutting shoulders of, Fig. 2, ofwhieh the shoulders fprevent the arising of excessive tensile strains and the shoulders e of excessive compressive strains by limiting the respective motions of the eyes 0, and thereby of the members Ct, Without being able to prevent the swinging motion of the flexible pieces. In similar manner a device may be employed in connection with the form-pieces for preventing too great bending strains in the parts I) and in the case of several compensators being used fordividing the work of compensating equally among all and at the same time for making gross faults in the putting down of the piping evident. Fort-his purpose lugs 9 may be provided on the parts a, through which a rod 7t loosely passes, having shoulders t' before and behind the lugs and limiting the swinging motion ofthe flexible parts by its shoulders striking against the lugs g, Fig. 19.

In order to obviate the sagging of the flexible connections of the compensator, I have provided an improved support upon which the compensator is mounted and secured in operative position. This support is also so constructed as to provide means for preventing too great tensile and compressive strains upon the flexible pipes both laterally and perpendicularly to the direction of. motion, so that any other devices for this purpose may be dispensed with. In the drawings I have shown this support as consisting of a bracket so formed and constructed as to conform to the general contour of the compensator which is to be supported. I have illustrated the bracket as destined or intended for use in connection with a U -shaped compensatorand formed with arms 7601. Upon the arm his a strap Zor other suitable means for securely holding or binding the piping to IIO rests and which serve to reduce the friction between the moving portion of the piping and the support, and thus facilitate the movement of the piping. When a compensator,

'as shown in Fig. 2, isemployed, a pair of sup-' ports are generallyusedand are so arranged that the pipeline, which is rigidly connected to the arm 7c of one support will be allowed to rest upon the friction-rollers-n on the arm m of the other support.

of sufficient depth and width toform spaces for the flanges m,lform ed at the union of the compensator with the form-pieces orthe pipeline. These recesses are provided with lugs '19 q, as shown in Figs. 23, 25, and 26, which project above the pipe on either side of the flanges, and thus form an eflicient means for limiting the movement'of the pipes caused by the tensile orcompressive strain to-which they are subjected. Along'the arm on which the compensator rests may-also be placed a series of lugs 19, which extend above the pipe and provide means for limiting the lateral bending of the compensator." a It will beseenfrom'theabove description that when the pipes havejan excessive movement their flanges will abut against the edges of the recesses 0 and the lugs q, and thus be limited or restrained in their movement, and in the same manner the compensator strikes the lugs 13 and is restrained when subjected to an excessive lateral bend.

To insure the arising of onlylow strains from bending and to fully utilize the flexibility for compensating purposes,the connectingpiece a should whenever possible be so placed that the flexible member I) is normally drawn just as far to the one side as it will in any case be drawn to the other in compensating.

(See Fig. 18.) Instead of this, though, the stiff pieces a may be so disposed in regard toline guided so that the curve is able to rise as the knees approach each other: As it is desirable to avoid flanges as much as possible, the stiff members may consist of flexible pipe or hose, too, armed, however, with stiffening devices or braces t u, embracing the flexible pipe at the ends of the curves with straps '12, Fig. 29, and preventing further bending of the parts between, Fig. 30. Forces acting on the ends 10 would then produce a Within the arms of thesupport are formed indentations or recesses 0,-

bending of the unarmed partsa, Fig.;30, only.

The straps o, modifying the motionof theva is rious parts of the pipe, might, insteadof'be i ing at the ends of curved bars or braces -also' be arranged on supportson' which theipipe rests or which are disposedat t-he side (if-the 3 pipe. Besides as'compensators' such flexible pipesyof which certain partsjare stiffenedf; may, be used in many otherwayswhere-mew tallicho'se or flexible pipes are-employed.

'To prevent in the case ofsteam-pipingcon- 1 densed water from gathering in thedpres-f sions-of the 'corrugated-pip sand -to reduce- 3 the loss by friction-between the steam or fluidf I conducted and the sides of the. icorrugatedjff pipes, the latter, y,-'.havi;ng' the sufficient thickness for the-strengthireqnired o'f'them'; p may be lined-with thinner smoothiand flexible pipes :15, Fig. 31.

hat I claim, anddesire tosecnre j ters Patent of the United States, is'- l. In.apipecompensator, thecombination-] 15]. of stiff;bpipes and flexible pipe nemberse so,

disposed to one another that-the axis of the pipe whose longitudinal movement: isto be. f

compensated does not coincide with that of 1 5 the one to be subjected tobending andmeans for limiting the bending of the flexible pi pes.

2. The combination -of stiff pipes with straight, or approximately straight, iflexible 1 pipe members and stiff form pieces, connectr I ing thesaid flexible pipe members.

SpIn combinationwithapipe-compensator, i rods'disposed transversely to the flexible,

pipes, with abutting shoulders for preventing.

excessive bending strains in'the flexible pipes:

ipIn combination-with a compensator, a

pipes are positioned, to preventbending in a plane perpendicular to the direction of motion, and excessive tensile and compressive strains in the flexible pipes.

5. In combination with a compensator, a

support with lugs or the like, between which 1 the connecting-fla'ngesor special lugson the IIO" support with indentations for receiving the connecting flanges or lugs on thepi-pes, for preventing bending of the flexible pipes in a plane perpendicular to the direction of motion and'excessive tensile and compressive strains in the flexible pipes.

6. In combination with a compensator,- a

support within gs or the like, arranged in the direction of the axis of the piping, between which lugs the connecting flanges or lugs on the pipes come to rest, to preventexcessive bending of the flexible pipe; g

7. In combination with a compensator, a support with indentations arranged in the direction of the axis of the-piping, in which the flanges or lugs on the pipescome to lie; to

prevent excessive bending of the flexible pipe.

8. In combination with a compensator, a 1

support with lugs or the like, arranged in the direction both of the axis of the flexible pipe,

and of the axis of the expanding piping, be-

tween'which the connecting flanges or lugs to facilitate the movement of the piping and means to restrain an excessive movement of the piping.

11. In combination with a flexible compensator, a support provided with a fastening device for fixing one point of the piping, so that its motion may take place toward one side only and rollers to facilitate the said motion.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

KARL SCHMIDT. l/Vitnesses:

EMIL REINHOLT, .HERNANDO DE SoTo. 

